:: Jamboree ::

Tonight's the night of that dreaded seasonal institution, the Office Christmas Party. An orgy of enforced jollity, and the overwhelming desire to drink as much as possible courtesy of the company are just two reasons why these events are never a good idea. And I haven't even started on the dancing - awkward, bloated gyrations, hampered by an ill fitting suit and one mince pie too many. "Curmudgeon!" you cry? Well; yes, and humbug too. Most of all, I resent having to "celebrate" Christmas nearly a month before the day itself, and the silly patronising websites that give advice on how to behave. Actually, we're going to quite a nice restaurant, so I don't know what I'm moaning about. Look out for pictures of my larger colleagues here in due course. At least we don't have to deal with the religious bit, but I've got a remedy for that too - buy your Bible-basher baiting bumper stickers here.

Well, at least some of the other proposed weekend activities should be more fun (if less drunken). I'm finally going to the new V&A architecture gallery, after blathering on about it for ages. And then I'm going to cook pelmeni on Sunday for Lava Lamp, before settling down to peruse the Little Britain Fest on BBC3.

Nostalgia beckons this week, as I hear that Cheech & Chong are back together; not only that, but it seems the Black & White Minstrels might be re-forming: a controversial prospect if ever I heard one. If gentle reminiscence is more your cup of darjeeling, Changing Choons from the Xfm Breakfast show, offers a rose-tinted glimpse of televisual history. Each week, dashing Chris Smith performs a little ditty to an erstwhile theme-tune (sometimes current too!), such as Knightrider, Miss Marple or Terry & June. This week's selection was The Good Life - an absolute corker. It's worth checking back to see if they post it up there.

And finally... I wouldn't normally do this, but I'm going to recommend a shopping site. Mankind offers a large range of high quality products. I recommend them heartily - the site is easy to navigate, service is good and quick, and you can order things you might be embarrassed to pick up in the shop...